The construction of a new road to ease congestion in Guildford's largest industrial estate has begun.

A new internal road will be built in Slyfield Industrial Estate with the aim of easing “traffic congestion for existing businesses” in and around the estate, Guildford Borough Council (GBC) says. It will provide another way for residents to access the community recycling centre, which will be relocated as part of the work.

The development is part of the Slyfield Area Regeneration Project and will enable the relocation of the GBC's depot, the community recycling centre and Thames Water’s sewage works to a different part of the Slyfield regeneration area, the council says.

Drawings obtained by Surrey Live show that the new road will join on to Westfield Road and Moorfield Road, running around the buildings to the east of the industrial estate. Two new roundabouts will be built to enable access to the relocated recycling centre and other facilities when they are moved from their existing positions within Slyfield.

The new road to the east of the industrial estate (Image: Guildford Borough Council)

The relocation, as well as the addition of two new roundabouts, will improve traffic around the area for residents as well as existing and new businesses, the council says.

GBC added that it hopes the work will “support and unlock the potential opportunities” for the Slyfield regeneration project – plans which include building 1,000 homes, with the scope for a further 500 after 2034, on Guildford’s largest brownfield site.

The new road, which will help to bring forward the housing, is expected to be completed by early 2020.

What the area currently looks like (Image: Surrey Live)

GBC deputy leader and lead councillor for infrastructure and governance, Councillor Matt Furniss, said: “On completion the scheme will have a hugely positive impact on improving traffic flow in and around Slyfield.

“It will also enable us to update and move the depot to a better location and bring forward housing on our largest brownfield site, which in turn will better serve our current residents and businesses and those companies who may move to the area in the future.”

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Traffic management will be put in place while the road is under construction.

It includes construction and delivery vehicles to the work site avoiding peak hours from 8am to 10am, and 4pm to 6pm, the site entrance being at the north side and the control of traffic entering and leaving.

The blue shaded area shows the new road (Image: Guildford Borough Council)

Cllr Paul Spooner, GBC leader, added: “The new internal road is key to the wider regeneration of the area, serving as a catalyst for reinvestment in the estate creating more job opportunities and unlocking the potential of brownfield land being utilised for new housing as laid out in our Local Plan.”

There will be no road closures put in place as a result of the work.

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